James Gardner was born in Ireland about 1839 or 1841 and arrived in New Zealand about 1873. In 1911 he is shown as an advertising agent of Ferry Road, Christchurch with an office located in the Lyttelton Times Chambers in Gloucester Street. He died at his residence at 103 Ferry Road on 3 February 1914 and was buried in Linwood Cemetery on 5 February 1914. His wife Ross Ann Gardner died on 18 September 1903 aged 52.His children were Florence Gardner (1880), Arthur Edward Gardner (1883) and Rose Gardner (Mrs William Thomas Maher).

dated on reverse 10 July 1913(this appears to be a photograph of the arrival of the Sheffield Choir in 1911, see photo below. The Sheffield Choir gave three concerts in Christchurch - 3, 4 and 5 July 1911. They opened their Christchurch season to a house of 3,500 in the King Edward Barracks)

from eBay 2010

above: Victoria Square, Christchurchno. 67

above: Manchester Street, Christchurch.no. 68

High Street, Christchurch.no. 69reverse message dated 1 October 1912"Here I am still [in] this beautiful city of Ch.Ch."

above - Press Office, Christchurch.no. 181above - St Michael's Church, Christchurchno. 184"We went here to 11 o'clock service yesterday, I liked it - don't see why they think its funny. It's high church - they have incence & confession."

above - R. C. Cathedral Christchurchno.210

above - River Avon, Christchurch.no. 218

above - River Avon, Christchurch.no. 219"What about coming on the river tonight in a canoe eh what wish you could, so do I also. Christchurch is not such a bad place & is nicely laid out. Founest love from [two illegiable words] Frank"

2 comments:

Fantastic to see the photos of the Sheffield Choir. If this was them arriving at the station then I am confident they were arriving from their boat the SS Mararoa which had docked in Lyttleton Harbour en route from Wellington.

I have my Grandfather Philip Henry Chignell's diary of the Sheffield Choir World Tour which has now achieved its century!

Sad to reflect on all the places and building they visited which are now in a sorry state.

The diary is to be published in a book hopefully this year. Feel free to contact me (tomchignell@me.com) if you are interested.

Hello Tom, thanks for the message about the Sheffield Choir postcard. Its interesting to see in the photo the large number of people who greeted the choir on their arrival in Christchurch. I looks to have been a big event for the city at that time.

Yes, sadly a huge number of the buildings from that time have now been lost, and the city will be completely different from now on.

Best wishes for the publication of your grandfather's diary, you are lucky that it has survived.